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Your guide will meet you today in the hotel lobby to run through your trip and offer any local advice to you so you can enjoy the country with confidence. In the first section, the guide will explain your itinerary in more detail and answer any questions you might have. They can also assist with validating your Japan Rail Pass if needed. This can take up to two hours, so afterwards, head out with your guide to see some of the city's highlights. In the evening, head out with a guide to sample some of the local Tokyo cuisine in the vibrant district of Ebisu.

Today can be open at leisure for you to explore Tokyo as you please. We can provide sightseeing information for you or you can do as you please!

This morning you will embark on your first journey by high-speed bullet train — an experience in itself. On arrival in Kyoto, freshen up at your well-located hotel before visiting the immediate surroundings.

You can have leisure time in Kyoto today. With 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, more than 1,600 Buddhist temples and over 400 Shinto shrines, Kyoto is one of the world's most culturally rich cities.

Head out to the neighboring prefecture of Shiga, which is home to the expansive Lake Biwa. Here, you can join a local family and make mochi (traditional rice cakes) in a truly unforgettable, unique experience of Japan off the beaten tourist track. Enjoy some Sukiyaki lunch before returning to Kyoto. Spend some time exploring the city before meeting a local geisha expert for an exclusive tour of the geisha quarter — another chance to gain a fascinating insight into a rarely seen aspect of Japanese life.

Today is at leisure, and you could visit another town or city for a day trip, such as nearby Arashiyama, Hiroshima or Nara. You can decide which is most appealing for you. You'll be provided with sightseeing information for the particular place you'll visit. This is a great chance to see more of the country while you're there and utilize the convenient Japan Rail Pass that you have for the duration of your trip.

You will make your way to Hakone today by bullet train. Enjoy the atmosphere of this quieter town. This will give you a nice contrast to the busy big cities in Japan. You will also have the opportunity to stay in a traditional ryokan accommodation. Ryokan are Japanese inns that are famous for their service and the incredible food they serve. You usually sleep on tatami-mat floors in a Japanese-style room. The Hakone area is famous for ryokans having hot spring onsen baths, too, given its location near the iconic Mount Fuji.

Today you can enjoy the area and towns of the Hakone National Park. The village of Hakone-machi sits right on the lake nestled in the hills near Mt. Fuji. You can also take the ferry across the lake and enjoy the scenery and vistas around Hakone. If the weather is clear you may catch a glimpse of the very conical Mt. Fuji!

You will return to Tokyo by private line train today for your last night in Japan. Definitely take the opportunity to see any sights of the city you may have missed at the beginning of the trip. This is also a good chance to do any last-minute shopping or eat some more amazing food in Japan's capital city!

Today, you'll take a shared transfer from your hotel to the airport in time for your return flight home.